ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy and feasibility of multiple special formed titanium mesh cages (TMCs) to treat lumbo-sacral spinal tuberculosis via posterior approach. Methods: From July, 2007 to June, 2013, 25 patients with lumbo-sacral spinal tuberculosis underwent one-stage posterior debridement, internal if xation, and interbody fusion using multiple special formed titanium meshes. We compared the parameters as follow: the pre- and post-operative American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score, lumbo-sacral angle, the height of intervertebral space, visual analogue scale (VAS), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and observedoperation time, intraoperative blood loss, and time of bone gratf fusion. Results: Operation time ranged from 90 to 180 min, (128±24) min in average. Blood loss in the operation ranged from 100 to 800 mL, (310±125) mL in average. hTe patients were followed up for 24 to 59 months, (43±7) months in average. One patient delayed healing of wound. ASIA score was improved in a certain degree in patients with neurological dysfunctions. hTe lumbo-sacral angle and the height of intervertebral space in the post-operation were signiifcantly higher than those in the pre-operation (P<0.001). VAS was reduced obviously atfer 2 weeks of operation. hTe ESR recovered to the normal level 6 months atfer operation in all the patients. Solid fusion was achieved within 4 to 8 months, 6 months in average. No sinus tract, cerebrospinal meningitis, tuberculosis recurrence and titanium mesh subsidence were found. Conclusion: For lumbo-sacral tuberculosis, multiple special formed titanium mesh cages via posterior approach is safe and effective, which is good to the stability in spine reconstruction.